Battery performance in cold weather

Low temperature can reduce available voltage and runtime even when the battery is not empty.

Reviewed
2026-08-09
Sources
2
Reading time
4 minutes

Why voltage sags

Cold slows electrochemical reactions and can increase the voltage drop when a device draws current.

Application matters

A low-background sensor with short radio pulses stresses a coin cell differently from a continuously running clock.

Use rated systems

Select only a battery chemistry and temperature range supported by the device and battery manufacturers.

Decision boundary

This guide narrows a battery decision but does not override the device manufacturer’s current manual or safety instructions.

Sources

  1. Energizer — Lithium Coin Handbook and Application Manual

    Lithium/manganese-dioxide coin chemistry, voltage, capacity, drain and application behavior.

  2. Duracell — Battery chemistry technical bulletins

    Alkaline, lithium-manganese-dioxide, zinc-air and silver-oxide chemistry behavior.